Need a break

[capt1black]

Please tell me others have been where I am tonight. Started working on my kit and probably was too excited. I probably tried to rush and made a few stupid rookie mistakes. Put spindles on, took off and back on. I bolted, unbolted, bolted shocks 3 times. Ran to lowes for new cotter pin and stripped bolt. Put F panel on temp but realized after i had put upper control arm on I could not get to a rivet hole. Am I the only one that cant get a wrench on the inside nut of the upper arm? On my 4th 1/8 drill bit. All in swflorida heat dripping wet. Decided it was time for Break. Thanks for letting me vent.

[Joel Hauser]

you are definitely not alone. I recall that one of the first steps in the build is to install the lower control arms, and I could not get them to fit. I was sure FF had welded the frame together all wrong. Wrenches and foul language were flying all over the garage. One of my sons, who is much smarter than me, went on the FF website, found out what needed to be done, and voila, all was right in the world. At least for a few days. My favorite expression about the car became "2000 lb paperweight". But in the end, it all came together, is so much fun to drive, and hasn't fallen apart...yet. There will bad days, but far more good ones.

[65 Cobra Dude]

You got this Capt! When you come here Sat, you will be re-invigorated!!!

Henry

[GoDadGo]

Captain,

I think you got ahead of yourself, but you were smart enough to realize that you went at it with a bit to much zeal.
Here are a few questions for you:

1. Did you attend the build school?
2. Did you read the manual before doing your inventory?
3. Did you do a detailed inventory?
4. Did you read the manual after doing your inventory?
5. Did you look at the Factory Five Assembly Videos at least once or twice?

My bet is that more than a few answers, possibly all of the answers to my questions were NO and that's okay.
If you take these easy early steps and have a little patience then your end product will be perfection.

Steve

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8m-MdRZvaH45Y6h4orIm7w/videos

[David Williamson]

Just remember a comment made "if it was easy everyone would have one" enjoy the process, it takes time and you will learn lots. Some things will be done a few times but get it right.
It's really cool to drive down the road in a car you built and know not many could do it.
David W

[GoDadGo]

You got the Capt! When you come here Sat, you will be re-invigorated!!!

Henry

Henry knows everything there is to know about our cars, except how to stuff a Chevy in a Roadster.
He's an insane walking encyclopedia/oracle when it comes to our hobby.
He's better than the Allstate Man, but not as tall!
You Have No Idea How Lucky You Are!

[capt1black]

Thanks. I am looking forward to meeting you and get my head back in it. Be prepared for lots of questions.

[capt1black]

Captain,

I think you got ahead of yourself, but you were smart enough to realize that you went at it with a bit to much zeal.
Here are a few questions for you:

1. Did you attend the build school?
2. Did you read the manual before doing your inventory?
3. Did you do a detailed inventory?
4. Did you read the manual after doing your inventory?
5. Did you look at the Factory Five Assembly Videos at least once or twice?

My bet is that more than a few answers, possibly all of the answers to my questions were NO and that's okay.
If you take these easy early steps and have a little patience then your end product will be perfection.

Steve

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8m-MdRZvaH45Y6h4orIm7w/videos

Thanks actually the only no is build school. Would have loved to do it but not in the cards. I read it a few times while waiting For kit, did the inventory carefully and learned a lot of names i did not know about bolts, washers and etc, watch theirs and others videos, had the manual and ipad with videos in front of me while working. I am chalking it up to rookie enthusiasm to build too quickly. I know Henry will set me straight and get me back on track.

[Papa]

Just a couple of comments for you Captain. First, that nut on the UCA is impossible to wrench. I used a large flat screw driver to wedge it while wrenching on the other side. Second, look at every task you are starting as if it is a series of steps and try to consider the next three or four steps as you go. It's really important that you plan ahead and learning that on a rivet is a cheap lesson. You can fill that hole with a "fake" rivet head and a dab of silicone and only you will ever know. These panels don't need fifty rivets to hold them in place, so if one hole is not mechanically fastened, no big deal. Remember this lesson before you attach the rear cockpit wall!!! Those trunk floor rivets need to be in first, in spite of the assembly manual telling you otherwise. Finally, and I think you may already have this one down, when your are tired and frustrated, gently put the tools down and step away for a while and come back to it later.

Dave

[GoDadGo]

I am chalking it up to rookie enthusiasm to build too quickly. I know Henry will set me straight and get me back on track.

Henry Is The Man!
Here is one of Henry's old cars which will give you an idea as to what kind of builder he is.

https://youtu.be/sUAnYcvbxyE

He even knows a thing or two about Flat Head Fords.
He's forgotten more about these cars than I've ever learned.

https://www.factoryfive.com/whats-new/customer-henru-r-s-vintage-33-flathead/

Steve

[65 Cobra Dude]

Thanks Steve, just a guy who loves FFR’s. I spoke to the man, Dave Smith, today about registering in FL. We are working on making it easier.

Capt, look forward to meeting you as well. Mark Burger will be here also because we are revamping his MK1!

There are many of us in FL that have experience with these cars. I encourage you to reach out to them as well. Join a couple of clubs like the Deep South Cobra Club, Texas Cobra Club, Capital Area Cobra Club and others. There is so much knowledge and people willing to help you get through this awesome project that you and your family will forever treasure.

Henry

[JohnK]

Lots of great advice here, so not much to add from me. I was able to get a wrench in perpendicular on that UCA bolt, which was just enough to hold it to tighten from the other side. There are definitely a TON of interdependencies in the build sequence, so I think of the build as one giant chess game where before I do anything I'm trying to make sure it won't prevent me from doing some other important bit down the road. The trunk floor is a great example. You want to have brake lines, rear harness, fuel lines, etc. in place before the trunk floor gets riveted in place. I've made tons of mistakes on my build. Most of them are easily fixable by buying more parts. :p I even have a "wall of shame" where my biggest screw-ups are proudly on display. Whenever I get frustrated I just glance over at it and it reminds me to just walk away and go have a beer and come back another day when I'm in the right frame of mind.

[silver_pilate]

Its very common to need to step back for a bit. I did very little on my car other than piddle one weekend a month for about 1.5 years. During that time we had a second child and I was working on finishing up my doctorate, so life was plenty busy. Plus I hit a few frustrating parts of the build, and it needed time for my mind to process through the problems and then get the motivation built up to continue.

I always knew I would get back to it and push through, but the timing had to be right. Don't feel like you have to force it. I took someone's advice from the forums: when you can't seem to push through or get frustrated and need a break, when you are able, go out and do just one or two simple things. Drill a few more holes; paint a part; test fit a piece; bend a brake line. Just do something small that needs to be done and be good with it. Eventually the drive and timing will return, and you'll be that much further along.

[D Stand]

Your definitely not alone in the mistake department! I had to shave the side of a socket to hold that UCA bolt.... All of my mistakes are from trying to do too much and not thinking through the next steps. But I look at all of them as “you have to learn something new everyday” and I am still loving turning wrenches in the shop.

[TMartinLVNV]

I made a lot of mistakes myself. I had to take many things back apart and put back together to get it right. There is not a problem that you can have that someone on this forum has not had before. You can do this!

[Jeff Kleiner]

Keep after it Captain, and when you hit a roadblock or encounter something you're unsure of come here and ask. There are a whole bunch of us here who are willing and able to help!

Good luck!

Jeff

[capt1black]

Thanks guys for the advice and encouragement. This is a great group. I am a runner and I have not been running because of working on the car. Today will be a after work run day. Saturday I will be visiting Henry and next week start fresh.
Chris

[ptstew]

My son, who helps me a lot on the car, gave me A/C for the garage as a Fathers Day present. That helps a lot, too!

[sread]

the truth is - whether you make a mistake or not, until you have built several of these things, there is a fair amount of assembling, taking apart, and then re-assembling things.

[nucjd19]

Thanks guys for the advice and encouragement. This is a great group. I am a runner and I have not been running because of working on the car. Today will be a after work run day. Saturday I will be visiting Henry and next week start fresh.
Chris

I hear ya Chris. I am an avid cyclist ( 100-150 miles a week with fondo races that average 100 miles every few months) and my build is definitely going to give me a break with my bike. My wife definitely wants me to dial back my cycling and turn wrenches instead. I really think it is going to be good for me to ride a little less and wrench a little more :)

[JohnK]

Same situation here. As a triathlete, when I get into peak race season the training makes it so that I have very little free time to work on the car. Now, with all races canceled for the foreseeable future, I'm back into base training mode and making great progress on the car.

[David Hodgkins]

the truth is - whether you make a mistake or not, until you have built several of these things, there is a fair amount of assembling, taking apart, and then re-assembling things.

This is so true. One thing that got my head straight was to think of the build process not as a means to an end, but as a hobby in and of itself. I really enjoyed figuring stuff out and how each sub-system worked. Sometimes, you think of a better way to do something and start over. It can be frustrating at the time(!) but as you progress you get a lot of pride looking at the finished product. I mean, who thought I'd be a fan of brake lines? I know I am now a huge fan of clean, efficient brake line routing!

Sometimes you learn stuff along the way completely out of the blue. This is one of my favorite "new" skills:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34367&d=1412627693

Anyway, the car at the end really is an added benefit. Don't get lost in the big picture, but attack smaller step as projects unto themselves. And believe it or not, at some point you run out of small projects to do on the car.

:)

[JohnK]

Dave, you're so right. As a first-time builder, I also see it as a way to learn new skills. I'd never formed brake/fuel lines before, so I ordered up some extra Nicopp lines and played around for a while, figuring out how to measure out and make accurate bends and good flares before tackling the real ones out of stainless steel. Having to get something right the first time is a bit nerve-wracking so if I can screw it up a bunch of times without consequence before having to do it "for real" that's always comforting for me.

[bldr.rob]

I think we made the EXACT same mistakes. It took my 18yr old son saying we should "plan the work and then work the plan" (hey, that was what I've been telling him!) and not be in such a rush. Since then I've learned to try to plan out as much as I can ahead of time so I'm not having to spend so much time searching through the forum while we are putting things together. Slow it down to speed up.

You got this!

[capt1black]

I went for my run after a longer than expected work day, cleared my head and then fixed my errors done on the car. I had to complete those mistakes or it would drive me crazy. Now a break for a few days. Feeling better about it. Thank you all.

[toadster]

you'll get there!! I think we've all struggled, and many in the same boat - keep plugging away, walk away when needed... :)

[DadofThree]

Capt, we have a joke between friends:
Curious Observer: "How long does it take to build the car?"
Us: "I don't know, but I can tell you how long it takes to build the car twice."

I tell people that I've built mine 3 times: The wrong way, a better way, then the right way. It's all part of the glorious frustration that goes along with the build. And it's all part of learning. No one makes perfect scores coming out of the blocks. You learn by mistakes.

But once you're driving it, you'll be glad you went back and did it right. Don't be guessing or doubting the quality of your workmanship when you have family or friends riding with you. Take the time (as you are) to do it right.

BTW, my car's name is "Pete" because I've had to REPEAT everything on there during the build at least once and sometimes more.

Carry on.
Dave

[Hoooper]

Ive definitely assembled a couple things in the "wrong" order so far, part of that I attribute to my build being only like 25% by the book, but largely avoidable nonetheless. Ive since been partially assembling pretty much everything I do until I can confirm a couple steps later that I am satisfied with what I did and can torque the bolts down.

[j.miller]

Wooosaaaw….wooosaaaw….calming breath. My advice to my son when he started building for me was that he would have to be willing to do the same job three times....If you get it correct the first time do your happy dance. If you get it right the second time give yourself a little pat on the back. f you get it right the 3rd time just move forward CAUSE IF I HAVE TO DO THIS ONE MORE TIME I'M GONNA DOUSE IT IN GAS AND LIGHT IT ON FIRE.....never had to burn one and by the 3rd car that boy was dancing more then building...da Bat

[nucjd19]

This has been a great thread with lots of good tips. In my practice I am the chair and president and usually I live by the mantra plan carefully thoughtfully and execute violently. It looks like in my upcoming build it should be execute methodically and carefully with pics for forum verification :)

[JB in NOVA]

Capt, I am 100% a newbie, so take my comments for what they're worth. I've been at this for 5 months now, and I've learned a lot in the process, thanks mostly to this forum and some "hard knocks" of my own along the way. I make mistakes on the Roadster almost every day. Sometimes I post them on my build thread so that others can (hopefully) benefit from them. Other times, they are so embarrassingly stupid that I don't even bother posting them. When I make a mistake, I try to figure out what I did wrong, fix what I "broke," then move on to the next step. It's amazing how much you can accomplish with this "baby step" approach. And this forum is a goldmine of information and support. Good luck!

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Goes faster if you don't press. Allotted 2 hours a day to work on the car. Longer occasionally on Saturday. My part of the car running go cart started in March & was finished by ThanksGiving. During the summer took the body into the painter. Chassis & body married in February. Title & plates issued in March.

Worked by myself & answered the when will it be done questions? with "When its done"

Hang in there & walk away before you lose your temper.

BTW you will use a lot more than 4 drill bits :D

[RBachman]

I think we've all been there, done that, and not just on a FFR project. I've found I have to put things down and walk away at times just to reboot my head about the thing.

Here are a few things I've found very helpful:
Fix the mistake and finish the step so it's not hanging over you.
Clean the shop, organize parts, tools, supplies, etc.. (Hunting down tools/parts/supplies gets you side tracked off the task at hand, and you can spend an hour looking for something that's right in front of you.)
Then stop working on car and stay away from it for a few days to "reboot" your brain. Take a vacation from it.

Other things that help me are:
Make & keep your shop brightly illuminated
Go through the remaining inventory and organize parts for the next procedures/steps
Read more, spend more time on the forums, ask questions
Make notes in the manual while studying. These are things like hints, parts numbers, and suggestions we read on the forums.
If you're hot, sticky, sweaty, etc. it's easier to loose focus and make stupid mistakes. This happens frequently where I live in Coastal SC. The work becomes an endurance test more than fun. So a good fan or even AC is a big help. I used mini-splits, but that was on a new garage I built. But even a window AC is a huge help. Same with heat in the winter.

When you walk back into the shop, it's clean, organized and ready to start back again.

[rich grsc]

BTW you will use a lot more than 4 drill bits :D

What :eek:, I built 2 cars with 6 bits. You're drilling aluminum and mild steel, not titanium. :p

[bobl]

I'm not good with long term projects. Knowing that, I broke the build up into numerous small projects that I could complete in a few days or weeks. That way I had many successes in a time frame I could manage. It took a lot of stress away and before I knew it I was go-carting, then driving in gelcoat, then taking it to paint and final assembly. I don't think I ever lost momentum.

Bob